Electronic Control Device Used to Subdue 'Belligerent' Shoplifting Suspect

An Oconee County deputy used an electronic control device to subdue a man suspected of shoplifting from department store on Dec. 23.

The suspect allegedly knocked down the store manager when confronted around 7 p.m. and fled on foot toward restaurant, according to an incident report filed at the .

When the suspect saw deputies, he started to run and crossed Epps Bridge Road through heavy traffic.  A deputy confronted the man at the entrance of Pine Ridge Court and asked him to stop several times.  According to the incident report, the suspect approached the deputy in an aggressive manner, became "belligerent" and yelled. The deputy told the man to put his hands on his head, which he did after arguing, but the man allegedly refused to follow the deputy's order to get on the ground.

The deputy reports he asked the man multiple times to comply and ultimately had to deploy his Taser to subdue the man, who was treated by medical personnel on the scene and taken into custody.

Anthony Curtis Thomas, 47, of Dowdy Road, was charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer and shoplifting.